Auto trunk clothing carrier



6 G. T. HENNAGIN, JR 3,209,969

AUTO TRUNK CLOTHING CARRIER Filed July 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5%{WM/WM Oct. 5, 1965 G. T. HENNAGIN, JR 3,209,969

AUTO TRUNK CLOTHING CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1964 UnitedStates Patent 3,209,969 AUTO TRUNK CLOTHING CARRIER George T. Hennagin,Jr., Sacramento, Calif., assignor of one-half to William M. Skeels,Sacramento, Calif. Filed July 10, 1964, Ser. No. 381,733 6 Claims. (Cl.224-29) The invention relates generally to devices for carrying clothesand similar personal effects in an automobile, and, more particularly,to clothing carriers installed in the trunk compartment of a motorvehicle.

Many people, especially while driving on a trip, hang their clothes onhangers placed near the rear side windows. No only does this arrangementimpair visibility, impede getting in and out of the car, and take upspace, but it also subjects the clothes to sun, wind and dust. Further,

this placement of the clothing tempts thievery and offers but littleprotection against theft and malicious mischief.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an auto trunkclothing carrier which protects clothes and other comparable personalitems against theft and against the deleterious effects of the sun,moisture, wind and dust.

It is another object of the invention to provide a clothes carrier whichcan readily be installed in a car trunk and as readily removed therefromwhen desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carrier which iscapable of supporting a large amount of clothing with but a minimum ofwrinkling.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a carrier inwhich clothing can easily be stored and yet is readily accessible andremovable.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a clothes carrierwhich is economical, yet is sturdy and long-lived.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improvedauto trunk clothes carrier.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in theembodiment described in the following description and shown in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view, looking toward the rear, of thecarrier in unlatched condition, a portion of the upper frameworks siderail being broken away for greater clarity of disclosure;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, looking toward the front, of the hingeand the latching hook, the view being to an enlarged scale, and withportions broken away to reduce the extent of the figure;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary median vertical sectional 7 view showing thecarrier installed in a typical car trunk, with the trunk lid in closedposition;

FIGURE 4 is a view comparable to that of FIGURE 3, but with the lid inraised, or open, position; and

FIGURE 5 is a median vertical sectional view showing a modified form ofcarirer installed in a typical car trunk, with the trunk lid in closedposition.

While the clothes carrier is susceptible of numerous physicalembodiments depending on the environment and requirements of use,substantial numbers of the herein shown and described embodiment havebeen made, tested and used, and all have performed in an eminentlysatisfactory manner.

The carrier of the invention, generally designated by the referencenumeral 11, comprises an upper framework 12 pivotally connected to alower, clothing supporting case 13 by a pair of hinges 14.

The framework 12 is preferably generally rectangular in outline andincludes a pair of side rails 15 and 16 joined at their after ends by atransverse end rail 17. Suitable openings 18 and 19 in the rails enablethe rails to be connected by fastenings 21 at various locations so329,39 Patented Get. 5, 1965 that the width and length of the frameworkcan be adjusted to fit the trunk lid 22.

Adjacent their forward ends, the side rails 15 and 16 are enlarged toform plates 23 and 24, respectively. 'The plates 23 and 24 curveforwardly and downwardly, as appears most clearly in FIGURE 2, andterminate in a rearwardly extending lip 26.

Mounted on the lip 26, as by welding, is a double-acting hinge 31including a first or top hinge plate 32 hingeably mounted on a second ormiddle plate 33 by a first pin 34, the second plate being, in turn,hingeably mounted by a second pin 36 to a third or bottom plate 37.

The double hinge structure 31 provides not only for relative angularmovement of the upper framework 12 with respect to the lower case 13,but it also enables the lower case 13 to be shifted somewhat in a foreand aft direction so that the lower case 13 can be latched to the upperframework 12 in a manner now to be described.

The latching structure includes a pair of latching hooks 41 dependingfrom the after portion of the framework side rails and adapted to engagewith the adjacent projections 42 of a transverse latching bar mounted onthe lower case 13.

The double hinge structure, in other words, owing to the articulationbetween the various hinge elements, enables the lower case 13 to beslightly moved fore and aft so that with the case in close juxtapositionto the framework (approximately parallel thereto) the latch barprojections can be shifted rearwardly, thence upwardly, thence forwardlyand swung into engagement with the latch hooks To unlatch the case fromthe framework, for example, after the trunk lid is lifted from theclosed position shown in FIGURE 3 (the lid carrying with it both theframework 12 and the case latched to the framework) the rear end of thecase can be slightly lifted and swung slightly in a rearward directionto disengage the latch members 42 from the latch hooks 41. Then, thecase can be lowered, about the hinge as an axis, to the position shownin FIG- URE 4.

The mechanical connection between the hinges and the forward end of thelower case 13 is effected by fastening a bracket 51 welded to the thirdor bottom hinge plate 37 to a transverse bar 52 mounted on the forwardend of a clothes supporting floor member 56 of the case.

The floor 56 includes a forward planar portion 57 and an after arcuateportion 58 and is adapted to support a plurality of clothing 59 orsimilar items.

Ordinarily, the clothing would be hung on clothes hangers 61 and torestrain the hangers against rearward movement an upstanding hook 62 isprovided, the hook 62 engaging the hooks on the clothes hangers.

It is to be noted that the aftermost portions of the clothes 59 drapedownwardly over the arcuate portion 58 of the floor 56. This dependingportion of the clothing serves to restrain the clothes against forwardmovement, such as might be occasioned by suddenly stopping the car, orby lifting the trunk lid with the case latched to the framework.

Restraint against lateral movement of the clothing is furnished by apair of lateral side walls 66, the walls having a sweeping contouradjacent their after ends conforming generally to the adjacent arcuateportion of the trunk lid 22. The walls 66 are also somewhat higheradjacent the curved location than they are at the forward end of thecase. Clothing is usually thicker at the end distant from the hangersand the walls 66 conform to this condition. A plurality of openings 67on the bottom of the walls 66 permit the use, if desired, of belts (notshown) to hold the clothes in place even more securely.

The after end of the case terminates in a footing 71 supported on thefloor 72 of the trunk compartment when the case is in loading andunloading position, as in FIGURE 4.

The upper framework 12 is readily mounted on the bottom side of thetrunk lid by fastenings such as sheet metal :screws 73, four of suchscrews being ordinarily sufficient. The screws 73 extend upwardlythrough appropriate ones of the openings 19 in the after end of the siderails and through a pair of fore and aft elongated openings 76 in theenlarged pl-ate portions 23 and 24 at the after ends of the side rails.The screws fasten to the reinforcing plate 78 encountered on the bottomside of the trunk lids of substantially all motor vehicles.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the clothes loading and unloading position of thecarrier, showing the ready access to the case by a person standing atthe rear of the trunk. When it is desired to close the trunk lid, theafter end of the case is first raised until the case 13 is substantiallyparallel with the framework 12 and the latch projections are adjacentthe latch hooks. Then, the after end of the case is given a shortsemi-circular motion so as to lodge the latch projections into the latchhooks. The lid can thereupon be lowered, carrying with it the latch caseand framework, to the position shown in FIGURE 4. The reverse steps, asheretofore described, disengage the case from the framework after thelid is opened.

For the same general purpose and with a similar mode of operation, butof different mechanical construction, is the device shown in FIGURE 5.In this instance the automobile body includes a floor 81 with respect towhich a trunk lid 82 is movably related. A supporting framework hasduplicate side plates 83 fastened to the lid 82. Each side plate isenlarged forwardly to furnish a support for a link 84 loosely pivotedthereto and is rearwardly enlarged to afford a depending side guard 86having a rearwardly facing notch 87.

The lower end of the link 84 is loosely pivoted to the forward end of acase frame bracket 88. The rearward end of the case frame is providedwith an upstanding strap 89 bent at its upper end to alford a latch 91receivable in the notch 87. A leg strap 92 is appropriately fastened tothe case frame and curves downwardly to constitute a leg 93 engaging thefloor 81. A stud 94 is fastened to the case frame and projects upwardlybetween the two brackets 88. Clothing hangers and the like can be hungon the stud.

In use, the lid 82 is lifted in the usual way, raising the clothingcarrier with it. The legs 93 can be used as handles and the latch 91 canbe lifted from the notch 87 since the links 84 allow upward and rearwardmotion of the case frame. The case frame can then be swung downwardlyagain to rest on the floor 81 to allow access to the clothing. A reverseoperation re-engages the parts. These are normally held againstdislodgment by their weight and against rearward shifting by engagementof the legs 93 with the floor 81.

It can therefore be seen that I have provided a highly convenientclothing carrier which protects the clothing in a most effective manner.

What is claimed is:

1. A clothing carrier for use in an auto trunk comprising:

(a) a substantially rectangular framework adapted to be mounted on thebottom side of an auto trunk lid, said framework including a pair ofelongated side rails and a transverse end rail;

(b) a clothing supporting ease disposed within the auto trunk below saidframework, said case including an elongated floor member having aforward planar portion and an after arcuate portion conforming generallyto the configuration of the rear end of the trunk lid, and a pair ofupstanding lateral retaining walls;

() a hinge connecting the forward ends of said framework and said caseto provide relative angular movement t-herebetween as said frameworkmoves with the trunk lid; and,

(d) latch means for detachably securing said case to said framework.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said hinge is of the double actingvariety to enable said case to move both angularly with respect to saidframework and in a relative fore and aft direction with respect thereto.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said latch means includes a pair oflatch hooks on said framework and a pair of laterally projecting latchbars on said case substantially in registry with said latch hooks assaid framework and said case are moved into close juxtaposition.

4. A clothing carrier for use in an auto trunk comprising a fixedframework mounted on the bottom side of an auto trunk lid, saidframework being movable with said lid as said lid is opened and closed,an elongated clothing supporting case hinged at its forward end to saidframework and being angularly movable between a first position in closejuxtaposition to said framework and a second position removed therefrom,means for latching said case to said framework in said first position ofsaid case whereby said case is constrained to move as a unit with saidframework and said trunk lid, and means for unlatching said case fromsaid framework whereby said case is rendered capable of being moved tosaid second position thereof.

5. The device of claim 4 further characterized by a double acting hingeconnecting said framework and said case, said hinge having a freedom ofmotion in a fore and aft direction, said case being thereby renderedcapable of translating within limits in a fore and aft direction.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said latching and unlatching means areoperative in dependence upon said limited fore and aft translation ofsaid case.

References Cited by the Examiner HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

1. A CLOTHING CARRIER FOR USE IN AN AUTO TRUNK COMPRISING: (A) ASUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAMEWORD ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOMSIDE OF AN AUTO TRUNK LID, SAID FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A PAIR OF ELONGATEDSIDE RAILS AND TRANSVERSE END RAIL; (B) A CLOTHING SUPPORTING CASEDISPOSED WITHIN THE AUTO TRUNK BELOW SAID FRAMEWORK, SAID CASE INCLUDINGAN ELONGATED FLOOR MEMBER HAVING A FORWARD PLANNER PORTION AND AN AFTERARCUTE PORTION CONFORMING GENERALLY TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE REAR ENDOF THE TRUNK LID, AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING LATERAL RETAINING WALLS; (C)A HINGE CONNECTING THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID FRAMEWORK AND SAID CASE TOPROVIDE RELATIVE ANGULAR MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN AS SAID FRAMEWORK MOVESWITH THE TRUNK LID; AND, (D) LATCH MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAIDCASE TO SAID FRAMEWORK.